Intel’s Tick-Tock Model

Designed to maintain cadence in ongoing innovation of mainstream Intel? microprocessor technology, Intel utilizes the ‘tick-tock’ model. Using this model, Intel has successfully delivered next-generation silicon technology as well as new processor microarchitecture on alternating years for the past several years.

Tick (process technology advancement) – Fulfilling the prediction of Intel founder and technology visionary Gordon Moore, in what is popularly called Moore’s Law, Intel delivers a new silicon process technology every other year. This ‘tick’ of process technology advancement dramatically increases transistor density while enhancing performance and energy efficiency within a smaller, more refined version of the microarchitecture in production at the time.

Tock (new microarchitecture) – Delivering a new microarchitecture on alternating years, Intel is able to optimize the value of the increased number of transistors and technology updates enabled by the new process. Intel? microarchitecture advancements not only improve energy efficiency and performance, but increase functional density with features, such as hardware-supported video transcoding, encryption/decryption, and other integrated technologies.

For instance, Intel? microarchitecture code name Nehalem (a tock) was initially introduced on the 45nm process technology (a tick). The 2010 Intel? Core? processor family was the 32nm ‘tick’ version of the Intel? microarchitecture code name Nehalem. Intel microarchitecture code name Sandy Bridge (tock), initially introduced on 32nm process technology, is the foundation of the 2nd generation Intel? Core? processor family. And, the 22nm tick of the 2nd generation Intel Core processor family is due to be in production at the end of 2011.